An unusual presentation of catastrophic failure of hip arthroplasty with a thigh mass

Abstract

In the advent of increasing demand for total hip arthroplasty, surveillance of these patients is imperative to identify potential complications requiring revision surgery. This is especially important in the young population, as revision is usually necessary during their lifetime. We present a case of a young female patient with a history of total hip arthroplasty 17 years prior, who presented with left hip pain and anterior thigh mass. The prosthetic hip had progressed to catastrophic failure with the cobalt-chrome femoral head having eroded through the polyethylene and acetabular socket. This was associated with significant metal debris and large fluid collection in the thigh. The patient required complex revision surgery but could have had a much lesser procedure with earlier intervention.